Probiotics administration or the high-fat diet arrest modulates microRNAs levels in hyperlipidemic hamsters

Abstract

To evaluate the modulation of RNA-related epigenetic factors by dietary interventions in hyperlipidemia (HL), male Golden-Syrian hamsters fed 16-weeks a high-fat diet (HFD, standard chow plus 3% cholesterol/15% butter) were subjected for another 5 weeks to: (1) probiotics administration (Bifidobacterium/Lactobacillus) together with HFD or (2) HFD withdrawal. Lipids and lipid-related miRNAs (miR-223, miR-122, miR-486, miR-92a) levels in liver and serum and hepatic lipid-related genes expression were assessed in all hamsters. Results indicated that probiotics or HFD arrest lowered lipids and miRNAs levels in HL hamsters. Probiotics modulated the miRNAs processing proteins (Dicer, DGCR8), without restoration of cholesterol metabolism mediators expression (LDLR, HMGCS1, HMGCR, SR-BI). In contrast, HFD arrest did not alter the miRNAs processing proteins, while cholesterol metabolism-related genes expressions were restored to normal. In conclusion, the hypolipidemic dietary interventions decrease lipid-related miRNAs levels in serum and liver, but affect differently the genetic and RNA-related epigenetic factors in HL liver.

Keywords

• Dietary intervention
• Hamster
• High-fat diet
• Hyperlipidemia
• microRNA
• Probiotics